Overview of the Parliamentary Elections in Morocco
The process of counting votes has officially begun in Morocco following the closure of polling stations for the parliamentary elections, which are crucial in determining the structure of the nation's 395-member House of Representatives. This significant electoral event saw over 15.8 million registered voters participating, with preliminary results anticipated to be released early Thursday morning. Polling commenced at 8 AM GMT and concluded at 7 PM, as reported by an Anadolu correspondent.
Voter Turnout and Election Oversight
According to the Interior Ministry, voter turnout had reached an estimated 28.05% across the country by 5 PM GMT, indicating that the election process unfolded under what were described as "normal conditions." In comparison, the final voter turnout for the previous parliamentary elections, held on September 8, 2021, was recorded at 50.18%. The elections on Wednesday were monitored by a total of 3,206 observers, which included 200 international monitors, ensuring transparency and fairness in the voting process.
Official statistics reveal that there were 15,801,162 registered voters for this election, with 28 political parties vying for seats through a total of 1,850 candidate lists that included 7,288 candidates, of which 2,658 were women. The Interior Ministry is expected to disclose preliminary results in the early hours of Thursday, providing insight into the political landscape of Morocco.
As stipulated in Article 47 of Morocco's Constitution, the king is responsible for appointing the head of government from the political party that secures the most votes in the House of Representatives election. The appointment of cabinet members is also at the discretion of the king, based on recommendations from the newly appointed head of government. To achieve a parliamentary majority, a party must secure at least 198 seats, making coalition negotiations likely in the event that no single party achieves an outright majority.
The government that emerges from these elections will face a multitude of political, economic, and social challenges, alongside significant projects as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. In the previous 2021 elections, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) secured the highest number of seats with 102, followed by the Authenticity and Modernity Party with 86 and the Istiqlal Party with 81. Currently, the government is led by RNI's Aziz Akhannouch, in coalition with the Authenticity and Modernity Party and Istiqlal.
As reported by aa.com.tr.
